EPISODE RECAP & SUMMARY
When flight cancellations, snowstorms and supply hiccups collide, how does the auto industry adapt? Our hosts, Keishawn and Danielle share stories from this year’s NADA that highlight dealer resilience, surprising booth encounters and a whole lot more. Travel was anything but easy, with canceled flights and record-low temperatures testing everyone’s patience — yet the show floor was still bustling. Dealers clearly saw the importance of attending no matter the obstacles.
An early surprise greeted many attendees who managed to make it to New Orleans. Restaurants ran out of food due to closed highways forcing people to line up at a single hot dog stand in the airport. “We waited in line with about 100 people for a hot dog — our first meal in the city,” Keishawn recalled. The irony that a place known for its vibrant culinary scene was suddenly limited to hot dogs wasn’t lost on anyone.
Dealers weren’t the only ones getting creative. Competitors tried to fly under the radar by visiting booths incognito — complete with trench coats. “They showed up asking questions about our services but then a badge slipped out and it turned out we were competitors!” said Keishawn. While the covert mission raised eyebrows the conversation ended on a positive note: “I even offered them a job!”
Beyond memorable stories conversations with dealers shed light on ongoing challenges. With lenders shrinking buy boxes and used-car values dropping negative equity is tougher to roll over into new loans. Meanwhile EV adoption is rising but many dealerships find themselves training teams from scratch to educate first-time electric buyers. “Dealers shouldn’t be afraid to run toward AI,” Danielle explained. “It’s not going anywhere and it can really help with both sales and service.”
The hosts also played a game of “Hot or Hype,” debating everything from subscription-based car ownership to 96-month auto loans. “Subscription-based ownership could get fiery and hot,” Danielle predicted, while Keishawn described ultra-long loan terms as “all hype,” warning that a vehicle depreciates too quickly over that span. They agreed that AI-driven F&I tools are potentially transformative if implemented correctly.
As usual certain booths drew extra attention. Equifax earned “best swag” honors for handing out custom sneakers. A fully functional car wash setup offered one of the most interactive experiences on the show floor — minus the water. And the sight of a Cadillac Escalade hoisted high on a special display crank turned plenty of heads illustrating that some vendors literally go above and beyond in their exhibits.
Despite all the challenges the energy remained high and momentum for next year is already building. “I’m excited about returning to Vegas,” Keishawn said. “A full year of planning hopefully with fewer travel hiccups will be huge for the industry.” Danielle agreed noting that the second NADA ends preparation for the next begins. With shifting credit landscapes evolving AI solutions and new OEM dynamics the road to next year’s conference promises plenty of changes — and plenty of stories.
Stay tuned for new episodes every other week on the Leadership in the Dealership Podcast.
